Ayahuasca

About

"Ayahuasca Kosmik Journey" is a virtual reality experience that immerses users in visions triggered by ayahuasca use, guided by an indigenous shaman. The game uses motion sensors to adjust the intensity of visuals based on user movement, and is filmed in 360 degrees for use with HTC Vive, Oculus, or Playstation VR. The game aims to replicate the transformative and meditative ritual of ayahuasca consumption.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 274 reviews

graphics32 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Visually stunning and immersive experience that captures the essence of a psychedelic trip, making it a unique VR journey.
Great for introducing newcomers to VR, as it requires minimal controls and offers a captivating visual experience.
The audio and visuals work harmoniously to create a profound and thought-provoking atmosphere, often evoking strong emotional responses.

The experience is very short, lasting only about 20 minutes, which many players feel is not worth the price tag.
Performance issues and lag have been reported, even on high-end systems, which can detract from the overall experience.
The heavy use of snakes, bugs, and other creepy imagery may be off-putting for players with phobias, making it a less enjoyable experience for some.

graphics
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
41%
5%
The graphics in this VR experience receive mixed reviews, with some users praising the stunning and trippy visuals that enhance immersion, while others criticize the lack of fidelity and consistency, noting issues like glitchy textures and frame drops on various hardware setups. Despite the impressive artistic design, many feel that the visuals do not compare favorably to other VR experiences, leading to a sense of disappointment for those expecting higher quality. Overall, while the visuals can be captivating and unique, they may not meet the expectations of all players.
- “If you have a solid rig, the visuals in this app are off the chart.”
- “Beautiful, stunning visuals, and smooth motion graphics.”
- “The visuals are absolutely breathtaking; there are some interactive elements that are very subtle but do go a long way to increase immersion.”
- “The visuals are lacking compared to other passive VR experiences.”
- “Overall, the visuals are so lacking it's not even worth it on sale.”
- “When things were rendered, they were a muddy mess at all graphics settings.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The story is praised for its engaging narrative and impressive visuals, providing a captivating experience, particularly on the Quest 3 and with Oculus Link. However, some users found the story duration (around 20 minutes) lacking in depth and interaction, leading to mixed feelings about its value for the price. Overall, the storytelling quality is highlighted as a strong point, despite performance issues on certain setups.
- “Nice graphics, long story.”
- “Good storytelling.”
- “It is so well done, one of the more visually stunning VR experiences I have had on my Quest 2.”
- “€ 12 is too much for a 20 minute story without interaction.”
- “[0.2] game story”
- “I liked it a lot, but it did not perform that well on my oculus quest with a link connected.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The music in the game is highly praised for its immersive quality and harmonious integration with visuals, enhancing the overall experience. Players express a desire for customizable playlists and the inclusion of original soundtracks, with some appreciating the authentic ritualistic elements in the soundtrack. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere, though there are calls for more personalization options.
- “I love it because we could enjoy this with psytrance music sets and the entire experience felt great to share.”
- “The amount of details and the harmony between the visual and the music are breathtaking.”
- “This really would have been better if I could create my own playlist of music like in DMT.”
- “Likewise, the ability to choose your own soundtrack - and for the effects to be audio-responsive - would further help to emulate the 'real' trip experience.”
- “Ayahuasca takes its ritual trappings seriously, and the soundtrack to the trip is accompanied by, I assume, genuine recordings of yage ritual chanting.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the optimization of the game has been criticized for significant performance issues, including stuttering and low framerates, even on high-end hardware. Many users reported that the experience was hindered by these technical problems, suggesting a lack of proper optimization for various VR headsets.
- “The game runs smoothly on my setup, showcasing excellent optimization for various hardware configurations.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimizing the game for different systems, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
- “The optimization in this title allows for a seamless experience, even on mid-range hardware.”
- “The stuttering issues (on a 3070) were nauseating, and most of the imagery was also nauseating.”
- “The experience was not without its hitches; performance wasn't great and there were a lot of framerate issues throughout, which seems weird since it's not even interactive.”
- “My experience with this app was bad framerate - I am on an 8700k @ 4.8GHz / 2080 Ti 32GB RAM - it's one of those titles that wasn't optimized across different headsets.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional journey, with some experiencing tears during key moments, highlighting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings. However, the emotional impact can be somewhat diminished by physical discomfort, such as nausea, which some players attribute to the immersive experience. Overall, while the emotional depth is significant, it may not fully replicate the feelings associated with real-life experiences.
- “I know that may sound crazy, but there is something rather emotional about this journey.”
- “It probably is different for everyone, but I was so emotional that I had actual tears during parts of this experience.”
- “You also miss out on some of the feelings and emotional experiences that accompany the real thing.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a captivating single experience that players appreciate, but its replayability is limited, making it more suitable for those who can find it at a lower price. While the effort and craftsmanship are commendable, the overall consensus suggests it may not warrant full price due to its lack of replay value.
- “An amazingly well done effort that is a delight if you find a cheap key, just not at full price due to the limited replay value; more a walking sim.”
- “I don't begrudge the £10 it cost, for the amount of loving work that obviously went into it, but I suspect it will have limited replayability.”
- “Probably not a ton of replay value there, but the single experience alone is awesome and I can't wait to share it with others.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The gameplay is criticized for its lack of mechanics and variety, featuring only a single animation, which limits the overall experience.
- “There's no game mechanics or even more than one single animation.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised as fantastic, contributing significantly to an immersive and enjoyable experience for players.
- “Fantastic experience and atmosphere.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, as it effectively showcases the potential of VR technology, suggesting that the game's financial model aligns well with its innovative features.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the app suffers from significant stability issues, describing it as "extremely buggy."
- “The app is extremely buggy.”
- “I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
- “The game often freezes, making it frustrating to play.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in Ayahuasca VR to be delightful, with unique visuals that evoke joy and laughter, setting it apart from other VR experiences.
- “Ayahuasca VR had me laughing with joy at visuals unlike any I've seen in VR so far (and as a VR dev, I play a lot of VR games).”